New ducati owners dilemma

[metlmrk]

Hello all,

I am new here and would like to turn to the collective knowledge of this awesome forum.  This time tomorrow I will be a first time owner of a Ducati m900. Here is my dilemma:  I am looking at two bikes. One is a carbureted red 1998 with 15000mi the other is a Dark 2001 with 10000mi. same price for both.  I am leaning toward the 2001 due to the fuel injection but it does not have the adjustable forks that are on the 1998.  I am also concerned that there are other degraded items with the dark that I am unaware of.  They will both require basic maintenance, belts, valve adj, etc.  Could anyone please weigh in here with any advise - Pros,cons

Thanks!!!

P.S I will be getting an entry into the "Introductions" area shortly

[red baron]

I'd go for the carby with adj suspension.

[junior varsity]

I also second the carbie!

The 98 has the big alternator, so that's a plus. The adjustable suspension is easier to tinker with over the years (make sure you get the springs, front and back, set for your weight - they come for lightweights), and the options for carburetted bike performance is quite broad.

They both use the exact same frame, so other than the fuel injection and nonadjustible forks, there's not much other differences. Look at the swingarms to see if they are both aluminum or if one is steel if you really still can't decide. The aluminum one is lighter.

If the dark has two front discs, then there's no trimming down on it.

[Cloner]

Also, if you want to learn to do your own maintenance the carbureted version requires fewer specialized tools and is simpler.  This from a guy with both carbureted and fool injected Ducatis.

[Drunken Monkey]

Just to be a contrarian, I'll say go for the FI bike.

Putting an adjustable suspension on the 01 bike is cheaper than the equivalent mods to get the carbed bike's power up.

Or, if you're thr kind of guy who leaves a bike stock, go for the carbed bike.

If you like modifying bikes, go for the FI.

[The Bacon Junkie]

Get the '98 for 3 reasons:

1) Carbs = 

2) Its RED

3) Everyone knows that Red is the fastest color.    

[koko64]

Does the injected bike have 43mm later forks (big hollow axel)? Does the '98 have the 41mm solid axel forks? I reckon the later forks (even non adjustable) when set up right would be a superior front end.

The hollow axel type forks will have better brakes and disks IMO. The disk brake carriers: alloy or steel? Later ones should be alloy. Check the swing arms as people have mentioned. Take a magnet along!

Does that 1998 bike have "V" or "W" on the heads? If it's got a "W" stamped on the heads then forget it unless it's had major headwork. See Brad Black's "Not all Created Equal" article (Bikeboy.org).

For the IE bike, is it the earlier EPOM ECU or the harder to tune later one? Can one of the members confirm?

Any mods, e.g. pipes on either bike? Do they both have a tachometer?

Check for those extras that the previous owner may have over capitalised on for your benefit. I once puchased a 1992 Superlight that was cosmetically rough because it had FCR's, Hi-comp pistons, pipes, upgraded brakes, suspension work and a DP flywheel. I should never have sold it. Ask about mods.

Carbed bikes are easier to work on and so simple. The IE bike is a better bike IMO, (I have a carbed bike). The IE bike has more power potential IMO. However, if someone has already hotted-up the carbed bike (pistons, cams, FCR carbs, etc) then I'd buy it.

Which bike feels better to sit on? Is one rusty and looks like it's been left outside?

Do they both have a service history?

Good luck.

[junior varsity]

The calipers are single pin 40mm on the 98 and two pin 65mm on the 01. They are essentially equivalent. Some people believe the two pin was slightly stiffer, but it wasn't stiff enough for Brembo to ever make a race version (billet/monobloc) - you still had to use 40mm single pin calipers. The alloy carrier discs are slightly lighter, but not superior in respect to brake disc material.

The 01 will have a hollow front axle and that will allow for an easy conversion to superbike forks (which use the same axle etc).

The 98 won't have a tachometer from the factory.

Both bikes use the same cam setup, while the IE's cams are a little 'hotter' from the factory (but not as hot as the ST2 cams or DP/V2 performance cams).

The 98 uses a different sidestand. You might need to upgrade it to the newer style to use Rizoma rearsets (I did this on my 99) but otherwise there's no changes in regards to rearsets on either bike.

Both use 50/54mm fork outer tubes, 25mm offset triples, and oem tapered steering head bearings.

[Michael Moore]

Also consider that one should have it's 12K service done, and the other is coming up on it. If you're going to keep the bike a while that isn't a huge deal, but it should figure into the budget. (I'm assuming the '98 had the 12K done.)